IPL 2021: Maharashtra government allows teams to practice till late despite night curfew

Maharashtra government has given a heads up for the teams to practice provided they follow the bio-bubble strictly

Rohit Sharma in a file photo. (Image credits: Twitter/Mumbai Indians)
By Aaryanshi Mohan | Apr 6, 2021 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

The Maharashtra government on Monday gave permission for the IPL teams to practice after 8pm and travel to their respective hotels during the night curfew that is imposed as a measure to fight the pandemic. Since Maharashtra is seeing a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, the state government called for people to “Break the Chain”, under which section 144 and night-curfew from 8pm to 7am on weekdays has to be followed by the entire state of Maharashtra, including Mumbai.

However, the government has made an exception and has given IPL teams to practice beyond 8pm, provided the teams follow a “strict adherence to bio-bubble”. The first match of IPL will take place in Chennai on April 9.

“Considering the match-timings, teams practicing at the CCI and MCA are scheduled to practice in 2 sessions — from 4pm to 6.30pm and 7.30pm to 10pm,” wrote Srirang Gholap, Under Secretary of the Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation department, in a letter issued to the BCCI.

Mumbai will host 10 matches of the IPL at the Wankhede Stadium and nine of them will take place at 7.30pm. The first game at the Wankhede will take place on April 10 between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals. 

“…permission has been requested for teams and the IPL staff (to) be allowed to practice inside the grounds after 8pm and they may be allowed free movement from the ground to their respective hotels after the said time.

“Accordingly, permission is being hereby accorded for the said request subject to scrupulous adherence to the bio-bubble,” stated the letter, a copy of which is available with the PTI.

Most Wankhede ground-staff test negative 

In a related development and information that is coming as a huge relief for the Mumbai Cricket Association, it is learnt that a majority of the Wankhede’s 10 ground-staff members, who tested positive for the virus, have now tested negative.





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